The joy of the Lord is my strength.
How many times, have I recited these words. In joy, in anxiety, in doubt, in confidence. Thousands? Tens of times in one day, certainly. So many times that I find myself softly reciting the words before I know I’ve begun.
This is a paraphrase or personalization of a line from this verse: Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”( Nehemiah 8:10)
Somehow, over the course of thousands of years, those words still carry the weight of assurance in every circumstance.
In the Advent calendar, we have reached Gaudete Sunday, and the word you will hear a lot today is “rejoice”.
In Isaiah 61:10 we hear: “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice;”
In Luke 1:46-48, we hear Mary, Jesus’ mother, bold exclamation, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”
Saint Paul encourages us through his Letter to the Thessalonians, “Brothers and Sister, Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks…”
Each of these passages were professed by people who would know great sorrow along with their joy. And yet, they still rejoiced. But how?
How do we rejoice, pray without ceasing, and give thanks always?
When we are sick, our body full of pain, our heart broken with the loss of a loved one, our finances a wreck, a job lost, a child far from home. Where do we find joy in these circumstances?
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 BRG)
Which brings us back to our opening verse, “the joy of the Lord is my strength.” That’s the only way we can rejoice in the face of sorrow or hardship or aging or even death.
Christ must be our constant companion. “The joy of the Lord is my strength,” becomes our unceasing prayer.
Let’s pray,
Dear Jesus,
You know where I am today and what I am facing.
Please, let your joy be my strength.
When I am tempted to worry about the future, plant my feet in this moment and remind me that You are here with me, and your presence is my strength.
Remind me of all you have done for me and those I love. So that I may give thanks to you always.
And I will rejoice, because Your joy is my strength.
Amen.
I needed this newsletter today. Especially the prayer at the end. Thank you.